The Falls Estate is a gated community of premium, 41 two-and three-bedrooms Independent Living Units (ILU’s) with associated underground parking and communal facilities on a 3.4 hectares site located in Frenchs Forest.

The scope includes extensive civil reconfiguration works and construction of nine detached Class 2 buildings that are tiered to align with the topography.

Each of the retirement residences is ultra private, spacious, most with a northerly aspect and all with luxury fittings and finishes and sitting within landscaped grounds.

Communal facilities include a swimming pool, gym and games area.

DA Approval was granted by the Land and Environment Court in October 2020, a Section 4.56 amendment application was approved in May 2021 anda further.  A secondary Section 4.56 was lodged in June 2022.

Johnstaff were initially engaged to project manage the procurement of the works and act as Superintendent during delivery.

The disconnect between pre-tender estimate upon which the budget and feasibility was based and actual prices resulted in a complex post tender process to rationalise every aspect of the design and scope.

This included extensive value engineering and consultation with the project consultant team including Marchese as Architect and InteriorDesigner and the two shortlisted main works contractors.  The extent of changes necessitated submission of a planning modification.

In parallel Johnstaff procured a separate civil early works contractor to ensure project momentum.

The main works contract evolved to a hybrid; Design & Construct for completion of the 80% tender design, a construction management approach but with a Guaranteed Maximum Price with a share of savings 70/30.

Johnstaff were able to procure best in class head contractor, maintain project programme and design intent and bring costs to within an acceptable level.

Civil Early Works were completed at a the end of July 22 and main works commenced in August 22.